Chipmunks show signs of potentially lethal virus

Saturday, Jan. 11, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Positive antibodies were identified in six chipmunks during a routine rodent survey, said Daniel Maxson, a senior environmental health specialist at the Clark County Health District. But that doesn't mean they are infectious, he said, adding that further tests will show if the chipmunks carry the virus.

Maxson still advises outdoor lovers to exercise caution.

"We are trying to define the scope of the animal population in the wild that can transmit this," he said. "The emphasis was always on mice. Now I think we have to be more general in terms of saying, 'Stay away from cute little chipmunks and cute little squirrels."'

Area health officials have been testing chipmunks and other rodents since the 1993 identification of hantavirus in the Southwest. Previously, only mice tested positive, Maxson said.

Hantavirus is fatal nearly 50 percent of the time. Symptoms include a high fever and body aches, followed by a rapid onset of respiratory failure.

Clark County health officials routinely advise hikers to steer clear of rodent droppings or urine when opening sheds or other seldom-used buildings.

Hantavirus antibodies have been identified previously in other parts of the country, said Stephen St. Jeor, a Reno-based virologist.

"But when people have done tests with chipmunks, no one has found any virus in the blood of the chipmunks," said St. Jeor, professor of microbiology at the University of Nevada School of Medicine. "What it probably means is that it's some kind of past exposure to the virus, but they are no longer infectious."

Viral results are expected within the next several weeks.